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In our Morning Update newsletter, we'll send you a mix of our best stories and the most recent obituaries emailed directly to you Monday through Friday so you can keep up with what's happening in Kendall County.

Letter: Planned Parenthood beneficiaries

Jan. 11, 2017

To The Editor:

I did something last week that I’ve never done before. I called my congressional office and voiced an opinion.

I asked that Congressman Hultgren not vote to defund Planned Parenthood. Why? Because I and my sisters were beneficiaries of Planned Parenthood’s service many years ago. No, no abortions to report. Just good, and kind, and competent medical care.

When I had first left home and was in college, I found myself away from home, with a yeast infection, and no primary care doctor. I didn’t really think hard about it – I went to Planned Parenthood. They were kind, helpful, and treated me with respect – and provided excellent medical care that I could afford. I used their services throughout college, until I had a job with insurance and a primary care doctor.

Later, I learned that my sisters had also availed themselves of Planned Parenthood over the years, with the same results. It was an excellent introduction to medical services and what to expect from future providers. Over the years, I’ve always compared provider services with those I received from Planned Parenthood – and few measured up. I hate to think of any woman being denied all that.

So, although I understand Congressman Hultgren is extremely unlikely to listen to my lonely voice, I felt compelled to make that call. I hope your readers also will respect that Planned Parenthood has never been just a provider of abortions – it’s always been much, much more than that. And I hope my letter encourages others to speak up, too, for those things that matter to them. Congressman Hultgren’s office staff treated me and my request with respect. I appreciate that, especially since I was voicing an opinion that is so unlike theirs.